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TOHOKU
UNIVERSITY
EXCHANGE and
SUMMER PROGRAMS
Founded in 1907, Tohoku University has demonstrated an enduring commitment to its
"Research First" principle, "Open-Door" policy and ethos of "Practice-Oriented Research
and Education." Always remaining true to our vibrant tradition, we have contributed to the
progress of civilization through excellent education and research.
In the education of students, Tohoku University is able to draw on its distinguished faculty
and researchers in addition to the excellent facilities of its world-class research institutes.
Mindful that our mission is to foster well-rounded, highly educated people capable of
functioning effectively in the international environment, we endeavor to encourage and
inspire our students to fulfill their tremendous potential.
Tohoku University was selected for the Global 30 Project in 2009, Project for Promotion of
Global Human Resource Development in 2012, and again in 2014 for the Top Global
University Project, by the Ministry of Education, Culture, Sports, Science and Technology
(MEXT).
Tohoku University is one of the most internationalized of Japan's national universities. It
has university-wide exchange agreements with 195 institutions in 32 countries and areas all
over the world. The learning you do on its international campus will give you memorable
experiences that will last a lifetime.
Exchange Programs
Program
Fields
Eligibility
JYPE
Junior Year Program in English
Science, Engineering,
Agriculture
Undergraduate
(3rd or 4th year only)
IPLA
International Program in
Liberal Arts
Economics, Management,
Education, Literature,
Agricultural Economics, Law
Undergraduate
(2nd or 3rd year only)
COLABS
Cooperative Laboratory
Study Program
All Natural Sciences,
Engineering, Medicine,
Dentistry, Pharmacy
Graduate
DEEP
Direct Enrollment
Education Programs
Auditing
Students
Undergraduate
or Graduate
All
Research
Students
Duration
Language
2 Semesters
(September to August)
English
1-2 Semesters
(September to August)
Graduate
English &
Japanese
Summer Programs (Specified Partner Universities)
Program
Fields
Eligibility
Japanese Language,
Culture and Society
TUJP
Tohoku University
Japanese Program
TSSP
Tohoku University
Science Summer Program
Undergraduate
Science, Engineering
Duration
Language
Early July – Mid July
Mid July – Early August
(2terms)
English &
Japanese
Early July – Mid July
English
Academic Calendar 2015/2016
Oct
Dec
Jan
Feb
Mar
Apr
Jul
Fall
Oct. 1
Fall Semester
Class
Begins
Mar. 31
Class
Ends
Winter
Vacation
Aug
Sep
Spring
Spring Vacation
Apr.1
Class
Begins
Spring Semester
TUJP
TSSP
TUJP
Sep. 30
Class
Ends
Summer Vacation
Financial Aid
Since these programs are based on exchange agreements between Tohoku University and the students' home
institutions, exchange students are eligible for a tuition fees waiver.
Although the students themselves should basically bear the cost of living, they are eligible to apply for the
JASSO International Student Scholarship for Short-term Study in Japan, which provides an allowance of 80,000
Yen/month for 6 or 12 months. Applicants will be asked to indicate their interest at the time of application.
Eligibility for Application
Students wishing to apply must satisfy the following conditions to be eligible for enrollment in the programs:
1) The student must be enrolled in his/her home institution as a regular student.
2) The home institution must have a formal student exchange agreement with Tohoku University.
How to Apply
Students should contact their exchange program coordinator about the application and selection process.
Application materials must be submitted only through the coordinator at the student's home institution.
Exchange Programs
JYPE Junior Year Program in English
Program Outline
The core of this program is the Individual Research Training course. Students will research current topics
related to their fields of study with the support of their assigned research groups.
The program also offers courses on language, culture and society, aimed at promoting understanding of
Japanese language and social customs. Cultural and intellectual exchange with professors and students is an
integral part of this program and will be accomplished through class work and participation in group activities.
Eligibility
Junior or Senior (Third year of four-year course or final year of three-year course)
Home institutions with University-level or Department-level agreements with Tohoku University are eligible.
Duration
September to August (Ａlso available for 1 semester only)
Requirement for Completion
13 credits or more, including 5 credits from the Individual Research Training course each semester.
URL
https://www.cefix.insc.tohoku.ac.jp/ASEP/JYPE/index.html
Daniel Blair CLOTHIAUX (Pennsylvania State University, U.S.A.)
“The JYPE program was an amazing experience and a great way to be introduced into Japanese culture. This program
involves taking engineering or science subjects while also studying Japanese courses and taking part in a laboratory
project with a chosen professor. Each of these parts gave insight into Japanese life and university life. The Japanese
language 1 course helped to build the basics of the Japanese language while also giving lessons of useful vocabulary,
grammar and speech. The two Japanese Culture classes taught us about the history of Japan and more specifically the
history of the Miyagi prefecture. The engineering classes were a way of learning main course material while being able to
experience the different teaching styles of Japan compared to my home university. The laboratory work, for me, was the
most educational as it allowed me to learn new skills that cannot be taught in a classroom. By working on a project assigned by a professor we were
able to complete tasks as a group or individually. These tasks help to build skills in design, programming and hardware. Sendai is an amazing and
beautiful city to live and study. The beauty of the city can be seen from many of the great sightseeing destinations.”
IPLA International Program in Liberal Arts
Program Outline
IPLA provides an opportunity for students to study a variety of Liberal Arts classes　taught in English, including Economics, Management,
Education, Law, History, and Literature. The program also offers Japanese language and culture classes designed to assist students in
understanding Japan in depth. Students who have attained adequate Japanese proficiency may take content area classes taught in Japanese.
Cultural and intellectual exchange with Japanese students is an important part of the program and is achieved through frequent interactions both
in classes and in extracurricular activities. Committed faculty, staff, and the student support group, "IPLANET" provide extensive support for IPLA
students throughout the academic year.
Eligibility
Sophomore and Junior
Home institutions with University-level agreements with Tohoku University are eligible.
Duration
September to August（Also available for 1 semester only)
Requirement for Completion
13 credits or more each semester including mandatory Japanese and Japanese Culture courses.
URL
http://www.insc.tohoku.ac.jp/cms/ipla/index.html
Sivaporn Suranetinai (Chulalongkorn University, Thailand)
“My one year exchange experience in IPLA was a blast! I have experienced so many things that will surely benefit my
entire life. I made lots of international friends which made me see the world differently from before. I learned how to
adapt myself to people with various backgrounds in order to understand and be friends with them. Spending one year
here has proved to me that despite the fact that we all came from different parts of the world, we have a lot of things in
common. I can truly say that this one-year experience as an exchange student has changed my life forever. All the
amazing people from all over the world, the IPLANET members who are always there for you, and the beautiful learning
environment of Tohoku University all made my time at this university so memorable. In IPLA, we communicate in both
English and Japanese (and other languages). We take classes and enjoy many activities together. And the most important thing is 'Little by little, we
grow up together'. Being an exchange student in IPLA will not only help you learn about other languages and cultures but it will also make you
understand more about your own self, which in my opinion is one of the many good things that this program can provide you. Do not miss this
chance of a lifetime!”
COLABS Cooperative Laboratory Study Program
Program Outline
COLABS is a graduate-level research oriented program that gives international students from
partner universities the opportunity to take scientific research training in their assigned research
laboratory as well as basic education courses taught in English at Tohoku University. COLABS offers a
wide range of research topics in all fields of natural science and students are encouraged to conduct
their research in new, interdisciplinary, scientific fields.
Eligibility
Graduate
Home institutions with University-level or Department-level agreements with Tohoku University are eligible.
Duration
September to August (Also available for 1 semester only)
Requirement for Completion
30 ECTS equivalent credits (750 school hours) or more each semester.
URL
https://www.cefix.insc.tohoku.ac.jp/ASEP/COLABS/index.html
Anthony Dunlap (Technical University of Darmstadt, Germany)
“The COLABS program of Tohoku University gave me a unique opportunity to experience Japan. The deep involvement
into lab and research allowed me to research in one of the leading material science departments of the world. My
supervisor and colleagues provided me with assistance and help, also to non research related problems of daily life. The
varying Japanese courses of Tohoku University gave me a good opportunity to improve my skills. The city of Sendai offered
a perfect environment to study, explore and enjoy Japan. Meeting other exchange students, making friends all over the
world, allowing me not only to learn about Japanese culture, is an experience I will hold dear for the rest of my life. I am very
happy that I came to Tohoku University and express my gratitude to everyone who made it possible!”
DEEP Direct Enrollment Education Programs
Program Outline
The DEEP program allows international students to take classes and perform research alongside Japanese students. Undergraduates will be able
to experience the wide range of fields and highly specialized courses Tohoku University has to offer through taking Liberal Education and specialized
subjects. Graduate students will participate in world-class research through their departments' activities in addition to attending lectures.
International students can apply to all undergraduate and graduate departments. Please note that applicants will be matched with research
departments in accordance with their wishes, but we cannot guarantee placement in specific departments.
Eligibility
Undergraduate or Graduate
Home institutions with University-level agreements with Tohoku University are eligible.
Undergraduate students are required to have a high proficiency of Japanese language,
sufficient to understand classes taught in Japanese. JLPT(*) N1 or equivalent is required.
*JLPT: http://www.jlpt.jp/
Duration
September to August (Also available for 1 semester only)
Requirement for Completion
Undergraduate students: 13 credits or more each semester.
Graduate students (Natural Sciences): 30 ECTS equivalent credits (750 school hours) or more each semester.
Graduate students (Social Sciences and Liberal Arts): A research report must be submitted to the Academic Adviser.
URL
http://www.insc.tohoku.ac.jp/cms/index-e.cgi?pg=100915122927=p#Deep
Florian Meissner (Technical University of Dortmund, Germany)
“I was happy to spend eight months doing research at the Media and Culture Lab as part of the Graduate School of
Information Sciences. For my Ph.D. project about disaster reporting in Japan and Germany, I used my time in Sendai to
conduct interviews with experts and journalists who had worked on the triple disaster hitting the East of Japan in 2011.
Academically as well as personally, I can only say positive things about my time in Japan. I received a lot of support by the
people I was working with, especially by Prof. Kubo Shun-ichi, to whom I could communicate in German because he had
studied in my home country. It also helped me a lot that many other master or Ph.D. students at our lab spoke English,
although I gradually used more and more Japanese. The atmosphere at Tohoku University was really nice, everything was
well-organized and the Student Exchange Division as well as the administration office at my Graduate School was very helpful. All in all, I can only
encourage other foreign students to spend a semester or more in Sendai. Living and studying in a foreign country is always an extraordinary and
instructive experience that you will never forget.”
Summer Programs
How to Apply
Specified partner universities will be notified of application procedures. Applications
must be submitted through the international affairs office of the partner universities.
Fees
Participants must bear the program fee, accommodation, meals, transportation and
insurance.
Financial Aid
Applicants are eligible to apply for the JASSO International Student Scholarship for
Short-term Study in Japan, which provides an allowance of 80,000 Yen. Applicants will be
asked to indicate their interest at the time of application. All participants in the 2014
summer programs received the scholarship.
TUJP Tohoku University Japanese Program
Program Outline
TUJP is for undergraduates who have a strong interest in Japanese language and
culture. The proficiency-based Japanese language classes as well as special seminars are
designed to help participants understand Japan in depth. Various activities such as field
trips, service-learning opportunities, home-stays, and interactions with Japanese
students provide the participants many eye-opening experiences.
Fields
Japanese Language, Culture and Society
Eligibility
Undergraduate
Duration
Early July – Mid July and Mid July – Early August (2 terms)
Language
English and Japanese
Credits Awarded
Participants who successfully complete the program will be eligible for 4 ECTS (100 school hours). Consecutive participants for 2 terms will be
eligible for 8 ECTS equivalent credits as well.
TSSP Tohoku University Science Summer Program
Program Outline
This 2-week summer program is designed for undergraduates majoring in science and
engineering, and offers cutting edge, advanced classes in these fields. Our aims are to
provide students with insight into what world society will need from advanced science
and technology in the future and how they can contribute to society through research.
The participants will be required to participate in 10 lectures and facility/laboratory visits.
At the end of the program participants will make a presentation on topics assigned by
each lecturer.
Fields
Science , Engineering
Eligibility
Undergraduate
Duration
Early July – Mid July
Language
English
Credits Awarded
Participants who successfully complete the program will be eligible for 3 ECTS (75
school hours).
Life in Sendai
Sendai : City of Trees
Combining the convenience of a modern city with abundant natural scenery, Sendai is
often called “the City of Trees.” There are events throughout the year, allowing one to
enjoy each of the four seasons. The most nationally famous of these events is the
Tanabata Festival, in which decorations are displayed on long upright bamboo poles in
the downtown area. Other events that attract large numbers of people include the Aoba
Festival, which features lively dancing, and the Pageant of Starlight, in which the zelkova
trees along a main boulevard are illuminated.
© City of Sendai
Housing
Exchange students will be able to live in university dormitories below on a priority basis.
Dormitory fees (monthly, Yen)
Monthly Fee
Sanjo International House I
5,900
Sanjo International House II
22,800
University House Sanjo
Common Service Fee
Deposit
1,000
Not Required
Type A: 16,600(*)
Type B: 17,000(*)
Type A: 2,500
Type B: 3,100
18,000
2,500
University House Sanjo II
30,000
(*)This fee will be applied to those who enter after April 2015.
Cost of Living
The average monthly cost of living is 80,000 Yen per
month for exchange students.
Tutoring
Exchanage students are provided tutors, recruited from
the Tohoku University student body, to advise them on their
studies and daily lives and help them adjust to their new
environment as quickly as possible.
GLOBAL LEARNING CENTER
TOHOKU UNIVERSITY
41 Kawauchi, Aoba-ku Sendai, Miyagi 980-8576 JAPAN
http://www.insc.tohoku.ac.jp/cms/index-e.cgi